The story of this lovelorn penguin will have you in a complete heap

If Friday night drinks have left you in an emotional state this morning, we would advise you against reading on because, frankly, you won't be able to handle it.

But for the rest of you, it's time to prepare yourselves for the saddest love story of all time, and it involves a penguin called Grape.

The lovely Grape found himself in some turmoil earlier this year when his enclosure played host to an attractive female penguin named Hululu.

The only problem was Hululu wasn't actually real; she was an anime character from the series Kemono Friends.

As part of a promotion, a cardboard cut-out of Hululu was placed in Grape's home, and according to zoo staff, Grape fell head over heels for her.

Having been rejected by another female penguin named Midori, whom Grape had been courting for ten years, the 21-year-old penguin turned his attention to Hululu.

Given his affection for her, zoo staff made the decision to keep Hululu and for much of this year, Grape has been standing beneath the cut-out with his wings outstretched and his beak pointing upwards – a classic courtship ritual in the penguin world.

Rest in peace Grape-kun the greatest penguin. You will be missed. A hero to us all pic.twitter.com/K4yoOh3fmJ

— Prince David(@prince_david) October 13, 2017

And this, ladies, is where the story takes a sorrowful turn.

Poor Grape fell ill in recent weeks, and eventually passed away next to Hululu's cut-out.

Confirming Grape's passing, Tobu Zoo in Miyashiro, Japan wrote: "The Humboldt penguin Grape-kun passed away yesterday. Sincere thanks to everyone for supporting him until now.

"Thank you also to Hululu, who watched over him until the very end.And thank you, Grape-kun, for all this time.Rest peacefully in heaven."

Aaaaaand we're out.